A Peruvian mayor played dead and hid in a coffin in a bid to avoid arrest for breaking lockdown rules.

Jaime Rolando Urbina Torres - the mayor of the town of Tantara - hid in a coffin when police arrived to arrest him for flouting coronavirus restrictions for a boozy night with friends, who are alleged to have hidden in drawers.

Torres' attempt failed, however, as he was detained for violating curfew and social distancing laws and was allegedly drunk at the time of his arrest.

According to local reports, the mayor has faced criticism from locals for being absent from the town during the pandemic.

He has reportedly spent just eight days in the area since the start of Peru's nationwide lockdown and has failed to put any local safety measures in place.